The short answer
Choose Allied Tribes if you want to start free or for $11 a month and keep your group, courses, events, live video and paid one-to-one sessions in one place, guided by Freya. Choose Circle if you need a fully branded experience and automations, and your revenue already covers an $89 to $419 monthly plan.
People search for a "Circle alternative" or "circle.so alternative" when they want a free or lower-cost way to start.
Price and fees at a glance
| Allied Tribes | Circle | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Paid Tribes, Lessons (courses), events, live video, digital products and paid expert sessions, with Freya, a built-in AI guide | Branded group platform |
| Price | Free $0, Pro $11 a month, Leader $111 a month | Professional $89, Business $199, Scale $419 a month billed yearly; monthly billing costs more. 14-day free trial. |
| Platform fee on sales | 11% on Free, 5% on Pro, 3% on Leader | 2% on Professional, 1% on Business and Scale, plus Stripe processing. |
| Card processing | Stripe's fee, paid separately (2.9% + $0.30 for US cards) | See fee row |
| Free plan | Yes, no card needed | No |
| Free trial | Not needed: the Free plan does not expire | 14 days |
What it costs to sell $1,000, $5,000, $20,000 a month
At $1,000 a month in sales, Allied Tribes costs less: $96 against $144 on Circle. At $5,000 a month in sales, Circle costs less: $364 against $436 on Allied Tribes. At $20,000 a month in sales, Circle costs less: $1,099 against $1,411 on Allied Tribes. These are all-in monthly costs on each platform's cheapest plan for that revenue.
| Sales per month | Allied Tribes | Circle |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $96 on Pro | $144 on Professional (billed yearly) |
| $5,000 | $436 on Pro | $364 on Professional (billed yearly) |
| $20,000 | $1,411 on Leader | $1,099 on Business (billed yearly) |
Assumes US card payments, an average sale of $50, and the cheapest plan on each platform at that revenue. Where a platform adds card processing on top of its own fee, Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 is used. Member limits, taxes, currency conversion, payout fees and add-ons are not included.
Where Circle wins
- Deep branding and customization, including branded mobile apps on higher plans.
- Workflows and automations for running larger programs.
- Lower platform fees (2% down to 1%), which matters once revenue is meaningful.
- A mature product with many integrations and an established customer base.
Where Allied Tribes wins
- A free plan with no monthly fee. Circle's cheapest plan is $89 a month. Allied Tribes Pro is $11 a month for 11 Tribes.
- Freya, a built-in AI guide that sets up your Tribe, drafts posts and course content, and answers questions on every page.
- Adepts: sell paid one-to-one help as written answers or scheduled video calls, with payment held until you deliver.
- Child Tribes under a parent Tribe, so one organization can run a Tribe per team, cohort or office.
- Live video rooms built in, with no separate meeting tool.
- Tips on posts, messages and expert profiles.
- Pay-per-view posts that members unlock.
- A public creator page at alliedtribes.com/p/your-name with your offers in one place.
Moving from Circle to Allied Tribes
There is no automatic import from Circle today, so the move is a fresh setup. Freya does most of it with you:
- Create a free account and tell Freya what your Tribe is for.
- Freya sets up the Tribe and its first posts.
- Add your Lessons, events and paid membership tiers.
- Connect your own Stripe account so payouts go straight to you.
- Share your invite link with your Circle members.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allied Tribes cheaper than Circle?
It depends on how much you sell. At $1,000 a month in sales, Allied Tribes costs less: $96 against $144 on Circle. At $5,000 a month in sales, Circle costs less: $364 against $436 on Allied Tribes. At $20,000 a month in sales, Circle costs less: $1,099 against $1,411 on Allied Tribes. These are all-in monthly costs on each platform's cheapest plan for that revenue.
How much does Circle cost in 2026?
As of October 2026: Professional $89, Business $199, Scale $419 a month billed yearly; monthly billing costs more. 14-day free trial. 2% on Professional, 1% on Business and Scale, plus Stripe processing. Check circle.so for current prices.
Does Allied Tribes have a free plan?
Yes. Allied Tribes Free has no monthly fee and needs no card: 1 Tribe of up to 100 members, Lessons, events, live video rooms, digital products and Adepts, with an 11% platform fee on sales. Pro is $11 a month and Leader is $111 a month, with lower fees.
Can I move from Circle to Allied Tribes?
Yes, though there is no automatic import from Circle today. You create your Tribe, add your Lessons and paid tiers, connect Stripe for payouts, and invite members with a link. Freya, the built-in AI guide, walks you through each step.
Sources
Start your Tribe free
No card, no trial clock. Upgrade to Pro or Leader only when the lower fees pay for themselves.
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